Centre asks states to make Black Fungus an epidemic, to report every case

The Union Health Ministry has asked all state government sto make Black Fungus or mucormycosis a notifiable disease under the EpidemicsAct.

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry wrote to the statesand the union territories,

With the implementation of this directive, “You arerequested to make mucormycosis a notifiable disease under Epidemic Diseases Act1897, wherein all government and private health facilities, medical collegeswill follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of mucormycosis,issued by health ministry and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and makeit mandatory for all these facilities to report all suspected and confirmedcases to health department through district level chief medical officer…”

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The decision has been taken amidst a sharp increase in thedisease across India.

The Health Ministry claims Black Fungus as a “new challenge”which will require specialists from multiple disciplines.

Those patients who are diabetic or have severely weak immunesystems are at a greater risk to contract Black Fungus.

The disease has been reported to cause deaths in 50% of the cases.

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The symptoms of Black Fungus are:

·       Sinusitis — nasal blockage or congestion, nasaldischarge (blackish/bloody)

·       Local pain on the cheekbone, one-sided facialpain, numbness or swelling

·       Blackish discolouration over the bridge ofnose/palate

·       Loosening of teeth, jaw involvement

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·       Blurred or double vision with pain

·       Thrombosis, necrotic skin lesion

·       Chest pain, pleural effusion, worsening ofrespiratory symptoms